David S. Bickham, PhD

David Bickham, Ph.D. is an instructor of pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Research Scientist at CMCH. He received his doctorate in Human Ecology from the University of Texas and his undergraduate degree from Haverford College. His research explores media as an environmental factor that can influence children’s physical, psychological, social, and academic well-being. The content of his current work is broad and includes examining the pathways linking media use to obesity, investigating the effectiveness of in-school media reduction and education curricula, and exploring how young people’s media use may contribute to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. In a 3-wave 1-year study, Dr. Bickham is working with a team of researchers in the US and Mexico to examine how children’s play (both traditional and digital) is linked to their cognitive, social, and academic development. Dr. Bickham is the author of numerous research articles and book chapters, has testified before a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning the effects of violent video games, and is regularly invited to deliver keynote addresses and present his work at organizational and academic meetings.